South Boston Lawyers

Ben Carafiol dedicates his practice to making a difference in someone's life. He has represented clients throughout Northern Virginia for the past twelve years. Former clients and other attorneys alike remark on his steady counsel and expansive knowledge. Ben has litigated, mediated, or settled every type of family law matter in Virginia. Those efforts have earned him a Superb rating from Avvo and a perfect 10.0 from Justia. He is also recognized as a Super Lawyers Rising Star, and has been every year since 2016.

Born in St. Louis, Ben attended The College of William & Mary, where he graduated...

Michael A. Robinson founded Robinson Law, PLLC to deliver affordable legal services across northern Virginia. Prior to opening his own practice, he served as a prosecutor for the City of Newport News and for Fauquier County, Virginia. In Newport News — where he was part of the Juvenile and Domestic Relations team — he handled nearly one thousand matters in the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court, as well as cases appealed or certified to the Circuit Courts. In Fauquier County (Warrenton, Virginia), he prosecuted matters in General District Court, Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court and Circuit Court. Over the years, he...

MONTE KULIGOWSKI IS A VIRGINIA ATTORNEY who concentrates in DUI / DWI, reckless driving, felonies, misdemeanors and serious personal injury cases. He has handled speeding tickets to murder cases. Monte has been defending clients throughout Virginia since 1997. He has won cases at every judicial level of the Commonwealth, including the Virginia Supreme Court (See, White v. Commonwealth, 267 Va. 96 (2004)). Attorney Kuligowski is also admitted to practice in federal District Court, the U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit and the United States Supreme Court. He has won cases in both state and federal court. Over the years, he has...

Amy has been practicing law exclusively in the area of Domestic Relations since 2003. She received her Bachelor of Arts Degree from Dickinson College, graduating cum laude, with a double major in Sociology and Spanish. While at Dickinson, Amy was a Member of the Spanish Honor's Society, and also served as a Teaching Assistant and tutor.

Continuing her education at the Dickinson School of Law of Pennsylvania State University, Amy received her Juris Doctorate. At Pennsylvania State, Amy was selected to Appellate Moot Court Board, and also served on the ACLU's "Know Your Rights Campaign." Amy also met her husband Noah...

Robert Reed is a personal injury attorney in the Richmond, Virginia office of Allen & Allen. His practice is devoted exclusively to protecting the interests of seriously injured clients and their families in personal injury cases including car accidents, trucking accidents, product liability cases, and premises cases. He has a reputation for working hard for his clients, and fights for fair and just outcomes for them.

Prior to joining the Allen Law Firm, Robert was an attorney with an insurance defense firm. This experience gave him insight on how insurance companies and their lawyers evaluate claims and handle cases.

Robert has been...

John is passionate about entrepreneurship and business development. Like many entrepreneurs, he has launched both successful and failed businesses. A true believer in “failing forward”, John looks for new opportunities in every situation. This mentality allows him to connect with entrepreneurs and business owners in a meaningful way to help them navigate difficulties and grow their success. “I find joy in helping business owners make better decisions to build on their success and protect their business.” Outside of his practice of law, John serves as Chairman of the Board for Roc Solid Foundation, a local non-profit that builds hope for...

Bradley C. Ratliff, Esq., is a Virginia licensed attorney with significant background and experience in personal injury cases, Virginia workers' compensation, estates, elder law matters, real estate, and civil practice. In addition to his membership in the Virginia State Bar, Mr. Ratliff is admitted to Federal Courts in the Western District of Virginia, and United States Bankruptcy Court. Mr. Ratliff holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Bluefield, College and a Master's Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from Virginia Commonwealth University, Medical College of Virginia. He obtained his Juris Doctorate from the Appalachian School of Law. Mr....

Attorney Richard Serpe is a distinguished Virginia personal injury lawyer with a reputation for meticulous trial preparation and presentation, and has a track record of success in obtaining favorable jury verdicts and settlements for his clients. As a personal injury attorney, Richard Serpe advocates for those who have been injured due to the negligence of another person, dangerous product, or company. A substantial portion of his legal career has been devoted to the representation of injured children. Mr. Serpe is frequently associated with complex litigation, managing cases with difficult scientific and medical issues. He has experience managing large case cohorts, including the...

I am Shannon Laymon-Pecoraro, a Certified Elder Law Attorney and the Founder of East Coast Elder Law, PLLC. My practice focuses on elder law, special needs planning, estate and trust administration, estate planning, asset protection, financial planning, guardianships, and conservatorships. I have a deep passion for special needs planning, which has made me a trusted resource for personal injury attorneys seeking guidance on public benefits and the protection of their clients' funds. Over the years, I have handled hundreds of personal injury cases, creating settlement trusts that often include special needs trust provisions and Medicare set-asides. I hold a certification as an...

Letha Sgritta McDowell is a highly accomplished attorney and shareholder at McDowell Law Group, specializing in various areas of elder law, including estate planning, special needs planning, estate and trust administration, asset protection planning, long-term care planning, personal injury settlement consulting, guardianships & conservatorships, and tax law. Her expertise ranges from assisting clients with complex estate planning for high-net-worth individuals with assets over $75 million to developing simple plans for families with limited assets. Ms. McDowell has a distinguished professional background. She served as the President of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA), a notable position within the field....

At 7 Cities Law I specialize in Criminal Defense and Juvenile Law. I started my legal career eight years ago as a prosecutor in Virginia Beach where I tried hundreds of criminal cases. My experience extends from the most serious of violent felonies like Murder or Sexual Assault to misdemeanors such as Traffic Offenses, Domestic Violence and School Disciplinary Hearings. I was recently selected by the National Trial Lawyers as one of their Top 40 Under 40. I pride myself on being prepared and working with my clients as a team to get the best result in our...

I work as a principal attorney at Poole Brooke Plumlee PC. I have a passion for helping people navigate the most challenging family situations they have ever faced in their lifetimes, whether that includes a divorce, a child custody dispute, or other family law matter. Each case is unique and deserves a specialized plan. When I meet with clients, I help them set reasonable goals and formulate a strategy and roadmap that we can follow together to maximize the chance of achieving those goals. I take pride in being accessible to my clients and keeping them informed about...

Dan Miller was raised in Chesapeake, Virginia. He graduated from Norfolk Collegiate School in 1985, and graduated from Oxford College in 1987 with an Associate of Arts degree. Dan went on to graduate from Emory University in Atlanta in 1989 with a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in Philosophy and Sociology. From 1989 to 1995 Dan played drums in a band based in Atlanta Georgia where he toured the College Circuit throughout the Southeastern United States. Dan graduated a semester early and was admitted to practice law in Virginia in November 1998. In 1998, Dan was hired by Michael...

Aaron Pomeranz is a Virginia criminal defense attorney at Parks Zeigler, PLLC who formerly served with the Norfolk Police Department for almost 25 years. He brings unique knowledge and insight into how law enforcement and prosecutors build a case against his clients.

Griffin O’Hanlon joined Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers as an attorney in the fall of 2015. He attended Great Bridge High School in Chesapeake for his freshman and sophomore years, before his parents relocated to Illinois. He returned to Virginia to attend Virginia Tech, where he majored in history. Griff obtained his J.D. from the Saint Louis University School of Law with a concentration in civil litigation.

After law school, Griff returned to Hampton Roads, where he practiced criminal law at the Norfolk Public Defender’s Office and a local private firm before joining Cooper Hurley and has extensive in-court litigation experience. Griff...

While Shelly has had great success with her own law firm, the opportunity to become the Manager Partner of a Chesapeake office for Parks Zeigler was enticing. The merging of the two firms allows Shelly to offer a wide variety of services to her clients while maintaining her Chesapeake roots. She is looking forward to many more years of successful practice with Parks Zeigler.

Shelly attended Regent University School of Law and graduated in 2001. In law school, she competed on the mock trial team and served as an officer for the American Bar Association. In her third year, Shelly...

Dominic P. Lascara is a native of Portsmouth, Virginia. He graduated in 1986 from the Marshall-Wythe School of Law at the College of William and Mary after receiving his undergraduate degree, magna cum laude, in Business Administration in 1981 from Old Dominion University. Dominic P. Lascara joined the law firm of Roy, Forehand, Laine and Dale, P.C. as an associate in the fall of 1986 after being admitted to the Virginia State Bar. He was admitted to the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia in 1987. He became a partner...

Bailey Gifford joined Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers in late 2020. Born in Nebraska and raised in Kentucky, she graduated with honors from Central Hardin High School.

After high school, Bailey graduated magna cum laude from Morehead State University, earning a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture with an emphasis in Business in 2016.

Bailey went on to the Appalachian School of Law, in Grundy, VA, where she obtained her J.D. in 2020. During her time there, she served as president of the Student Bar Association. Bailey also served as a Student Ambassador and participated as a member of both the Mock Trial and...

The son of a government official, Andy grew up in various parts of the country, including Ohio, Colorado, and Texas. He attended the College of William and Mary and graduated in 1988 with a B.A. with honors in Government. Andy then went to the University of Richmond Law School, obtaining his J.D. in 1991. While in law school, he won the moot court competition, the trial competition (twice), and the writing competition. After passing the Virginia bar exam in 1991, Andy worked in one of the largest law firms in the country in its Norfolk office, primarily defending large...

Rex focuses his practice primarily in the criminal and family arenas. He firmly believes client-centered representation. As such, the client’s needs are the primary driver of the course of litigation. Once the client’s needs and wishes are established, Rex Flynn will zealously work (with integrity) to obtain the desired result, often with innovative solutions.

A graduate of George Mason University’s School of Law, Mr. Flynn served multiple terms in student government, the Black Law Students Association (regional and local), the American Bar Association (the 11th Circuit Lt. Governor of Diversity), the Honor Committee and as an editor for the Journal of...

Madison Glossner is an attorney who is passionate about protecting the rights of those charged with criminal offenses. She graduated from Liberty University School of Law, and earned her degree in Criminology with a concentration in Law and Society, cum laude, from George Mason University. During her undergraduate career she focused on the flaws in the criminal justice system and spent time interning in both a Commonwealth Attorney's office and a Public Defenders office. She is admitted to practice in state and federal courts of Virginia.

Madison enjoys representing clients in all types of cases, from simple traffic infractions to felonies....

Karin Riley Porter is an experienced Virginia criminal lawyer handling many different types of criminal offenses in Virginia. Common criminal offenses Ms. Porter deals with include drug offenses, DUI offenses, reckless driving charges, as well as assault charges to name a few. Ms. Porter began her career in law as an Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney, where she prosecuted cases for almost a decade. While there, she grew to understand the need for proper criminal representation in the justice system, and elected to become a criminal defense lawyer. She is a member of the National College for DUI Defense and has been...

Bernard Crane graduated from George Washington University, and earned his law degree from Catholic University. He's been practicing criminal and business law in the Washington area since 1985. For over 30 years, he's zealously fought for clients accused of all types of crimes - from marijuana to murder and carjacking. There's almost nothing he's not already seen and learned to deal with, both in the courtroom and at the negotiating table. He's helped thousands of people get through some of the worst times in their lives. He can help you, too.

INVESTIGATIVE BACKGROUND
Before becoming an attorney, he was a private investigator,...

Carly Jehlen Hart focuses her practice in the areas of domestic law and criminal defense. She specializes in domestic abuse/violence. Ms. Hart has been practicing law since 2010 and joined the firm of Melone Hatley after dissolving her firm in Northern Virginia and moving to the Metro Richmond area. As a lawyer, Carly appreciates being able to help her clients, and getting to know them, during what is usually a very difficult situation, and the opportunity to advocate for them not just in their litigation, but for them in their lives. Ms. Hart graduated from the University of South Florida with...

I represent small, medium, national and international businesses, non-profits and individuals on a wide variety of corporate and business matters, including forming companies, drafting and negotiating contracts, dealing with employment matters, handling real estate and land use issues, collecting receivables, and defending and prosecuting litigation. I also assist many clients with their elder care, estate planning and estate administration needs, including drafting wills and trusts, assisting with the appointment of guardians and conservators, and the Virginia probate process. I strongly believe that clients receive the best legal services from an attorney who is intimately familiar with their businesses and goals....

Attorney Seth Peritz has been a practicing Criminal Defense Attorney since 2016. Moving to the Northern Virginia Area after graduating from prestigious William and Mary Law School, he began his career working in a highly sought-after position with the Loudoun County Public Defender’s Office. In 2017, he left to become a private Criminal Defense Attorney at a small criminal defense and immigration firm. While representing criminal defendants on all types of charges, many of whom were noncitizen immigrants, he learned the importance of taking a holistic approach to representation, including understanding a client’s background, career, goals, family, community, and how...

The Law Offices of Richard S. Sternberg is dedicated to the principle that bigger is not always better. Instead, it rests on a tradition that actually antedates the rise of the “mega-firm”-the solo practice. Emulating a country lawyer in a big-city environment allows Mr. Sternberg to provide more individualized service to his clients, and, at the same time, pursue more collegial relations with other members of the Bar. Since 1984, Mr. Sternberg has dedicated his practice to representing individuals and smaller businesses. For those corporate clients who have larger needs, he is affiliated with the Metropolitan Washington Law Consortium,...

A native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Peter Greenspun graduated from LaSalle College with a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1975 and obtained his Juris Doctor from George Mason University School of Law in 1978. Widely considered by his peers as an expert litigator, Peter has advocated for the rights of his clients in criminal and civil matters ranging from the simplest to the most complex. With over 30 years of experience trying countless cases, Peter has obtained exceptional results in local, state, and federal trial and appellate courts. Since 1997 Peter has repeatedly been recognized by the Washingtonian Magazine as being among the...

I am a first generation Greek American born and raised in the Washington, DC Metropolitan area. Although I work as an attorney in Virginia , I am a Maryland girl at heart. I am a proud graduate of the University of Maryland in College Park, as well as Regent University School of Law in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

I am honored to work for two of the very best lawyers in Virginia, and am passionate about my job. I happily spend hours in the office with my hard-working colleagues, fighting for our clients. Outside the office, I'm dedicated to...

Matthew Smith is a managing partner at Livesay & Myers, P.C., practicing exclusively family law. He is experienced in handling every type of family law matter in Virginia, including separation, divorce, custody and support cases. Mr. Smith works in the firm’s Fairfax office, and represents clients in Fairfax, Alexandria, Arlington and all across Northern Virginia. An attorney since 2005, Mr. Smith has litigated every type of family law case in the courts of Northern Virginia, including high value equitable distribution cases, custody, support, and military divorce cases. He is the attorney in the firm most experienced in navigating the Fairfax County...

Christian Campbell is an associate attorney at Livesay & Myers, P.C., practicing exclusively family law. His practice covers every type of family law matter in Virginia, including separation, divorce, custody, visitation and support cases. Mr. Campbell represents clients all across Northern Virginia. Mr. Campbell earned his J.D. from American University – Washington College of Law in 2021, after graduating cum laude from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2015. While attending law school, Mr. Campbell worked as a legal assistant at a law firm in Washington, DC. In that position, he supported attorneys in a wide range of fields, including antitrust, securities regulation, and...

Sarah Haight is an attorney at Livesay & Myers, P.C., practicing exclusively family law. Her practice covers every type of family law matter in Virginia, including separation, divorce, custody, visitation and support cases. Ms. Haight works in the firm’s Fairfax office, and represents clients in Fairfax County and all across Northern Virginia. Ms. Haight earned her law degree from The Pennsylvania State University in 2014, after graduating from Purdue University in 2011. She was admitted to the Pennsylvania Bar in 2014 and the Virginia Bar in 2016. Ms. Haight began her legal career by working as an Assistant District Attorney in Lancaster...

Mariah Latimer is an associate attorney at Livesay & Myers, P.C., practicing exclusively family law. Her practice covers every type of family law matter in Virginia, including separation, divorce, custody, visitation and support cases. Ms. Latimer works in the firm’s offices in Fairfax and Fredericksburg-Stafford, and represents clients in Fairfax County, the Fredericksburg-Stafford area, and all across Northern Virginia. Originally from Arizona, Ms. Latimer graduated cum laude from the University of Arizona, College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Honors College, before earning her law degree from George Mason University Law School. Ms. Latimer was included in the 2024–2025 editions of Best Lawyers:...

James Livesay is a founding partner at Livesay & Myers, P.C. He leads the firm’s team of family law attorneys across offices in Fairfax, Arlington, Ashburn, Manassas and Fredericksburg-Stafford, Virginia. After graduating from Virginia Tech in 1995 and the University of Virginia School of Law in 1998, Mr. Livesay served three years in the U.S. Navy JAG Corps. He entered civilian practice as a family law attorney in 2001, and joined with partner Kevin Myers to found Livesay & Myers, P.C. in 2003. Drawing on his experience as a Navy JAG officer, Mr. Livesay established the military divorce section of the firm...

Michael Poe is a lead senior associate attorney at Livesay & Myers, P.C., practicing exclusively family law. Mr. Poe works in the firm’s Fairfax office, and represent clients in Fairfax County and all across Northern Virginia. Mr. Poe earned his J.D. from William & Mary Law School in 2011, after earning his B.A. from Miami University in 2006. After law school, Mr. Poe clerked for the Circuit Court in Montgomery County, Maryland before serving as a Policy Fellow for an institute in Washington, D.C. He entered private practice for a law firm in Alexandria, Virginia in 2012. Mr. Poe practiced...

Andrew Tank is a partner at Livesay & Myers, P.C., practicing exclusively family law. Mr. Tank works in the firm’s offices in Fairfax and Arlington, and represents clients in Fairfax, Arlington, Alexandria and all across Northern Virginia. Mr. Tank is experienced in handling every type of family law matter in Virginia, including separation, divorce, equitable distribution, custody, visitation and support cases. An attorney since 2007, Mr. Tank has firmly established himself as a leader in the Northern Virginia legal community. He has been an active member of the Virginia State Bar’s Young Lawyers Conference, serving as Program Chair for the Bar’s annual...

Russell ("Russ") Haynes is a tax attorney with the firm of Burton J. Haynes, P.C., in Burke, Virginia. Russ graduated magna cum laude from George Mason School of Law in 2011, with a concentration in tax law. Russ works mainly on employment tax cases for businesses with large tax delinquencies, unfiled returns, and when assessment of the Trust Fund Recovery Penalty is threatened against responsible persons. But he also handles cases for individuals with unfiled tax returns and unpaid balances. Russ lectures frequently for tax classes and industry groups on how to resolve federal tax liabilities...

Attorney Robert “Bob” McClain has dedicated most of his 18 year career in law to public service and the criminal justice system. After graduating from Georgetown University Law Center in 2004, he began his legal career as a prosecutor in the Fairfax Commonwealth Attorney’s Office. In 2011, he was promoted to Deputy Commonwealth Attorney and served in that position until 2020 when he moved to the Prince William Commonwealth Attorney’s Office as Senior Assistant in the Homicide/ Violent Crimes section of that office. Bob brings with him over 15 years of experience litigating in the criminal justice systems of Northern Virginia....

Sidney Schupak is a tenacious and relentless litigator who has been fighting for the rights of injured victims for 29 years. Mr. Schupak cares passionately about making a difference in the lives of those he represents. He believes strongly in the rights of the individual, having spent his entire professional career representing the little guy against well funded, powerful and deep pocketed corporate defendants. As a skilled, knowledgeable and aggressive litigator, Mr. Schupak works tirelessly to level the playing field when representing his clients against big insurance companies and corporate defendants. Other attorneys often refer cases to Mr. Schupak because...